John J. Chanche
Encyclopedia
Bishop John Joseph Mary Benedict Chanche, S.S.
(October 4, 1795 – July 22, 1852) was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Natchez
from 1841 to 1852.
(present-day Haiti
), presumably during the Haitian revolution
(which itself occurred at about the same time as the French Revolution
).
Chanche joined the Sulpicians, and was ordained a priest on June 5, 1819 and was appointed professor
at St. Mary's
. In 1833, he was chosen as master of ceremonies to the second provincial council of Baltimore
. Chance was named vice-president of Saint Mary's, and in 1834 succeeded Samuel Eccleston
as president.
Chanche was offered the place of coadjutor to the archbishop of Baltimore and to the bishop of Boston successively, but declined. Father Chanche was president of St. Mary's when he was appointed Bishop of Natchez in 1841.
was created on 28 July 1837, and although it encompassed the entire state of Mississippi, a large geographic region, nearly three years passed before Father Chanche was appointed as its first bishop on 15 December 1840.
Chanche was consecrated March 14, 1841 by Archbishop Eccleston at the Baltimore Basilica. Arriving at Natchez in May 1841, he met there the only priest in the state, Father Brogard, who was only there temporarily. Taking up the role of a simple missionary, Bishop Chanche began to collect the Catholics and organize a diocese. Chanche set to work building a diocesan infrastructure, and became reasonably well-known in the church hierarchy in North America
.
In 1842 Bishop Chanche laid the cornerstone of Saint Mary Cathedral
, and opened an academy for girls. In 1818 he invited the Sisters of Charity
to Natchez.
At the First Plenary Council, in 1852, Bishop Chanche served the role of "chief promoter." He died shortly after the sessions of the Council, at Frederick, Maryland
, leaving his diocese with 11 priests, 11 churches erected, and 13 attendant missions.
In 2007 the body of Bishop Chance was exhumed
and returned Natchez to be reinterred
in St. Mary Basilica
.
Society of Saint-Sulpice
The Society of Saint-Sulpice is a Catholic Society of Apostolic Life named for Eglise Saint-Sulpice, Paris, in turn named for St. Sulpitius the Pious. Typically, priests become members of the Society of St. Sulpice only after ordination and some years of pastoral work. Uniquely, Sulpicians retain...
(October 4, 1795 – July 22, 1852) was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Natchez
Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson is a diocese in the ecclesiastical province of Mobile, in the southern United States of America. Its ecclesiastical jurisdiction includes the northern and central parts of the state of Mississippi, an area of . It is the largest diocese, by area, in the United...
from 1841 to 1852.
Early Life and Family
John Mary Joseph Chanche was born October 4, 1795, in Baltimore, Maryland. Chanche was of French lineage, having been born to parents who had fled to Baltimore from the French colony of Saint-DomingueSaint-Domingue
The labour for these plantations was provided by an estimated 790,000 African slaves . Between 1764 and 1771, the average annual importation of slaves varied between 10,000-15,000; by 1786 it was about 28,000, and from 1787 onward, the colony received more than 40,000 slaves a year...
(present-day Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
), presumably during the Haitian revolution
Haïtian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution was a period of conflict in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, which culminated in the elimination of slavery there and the founding of the Haitian republic...
(which itself occurred at about the same time as the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
).
Chanche joined the Sulpicians, and was ordained a priest on June 5, 1819 and was appointed professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at St. Mary's
St. Mary's Seminary and University
St. Mary's Seminary and University is a Roman Catholic seminary in Baltimore, Maryland; it was the first seminary founded in the United States of America.-History:...
. In 1833, he was chosen as master of ceremonies to the second provincial council of Baltimore
Provincial Councils of Baltimore
The Provincial Councils of Baltimore were councils of Roman Catholic bishops that set the pattern for Catholic organisation in the United States of America...
. Chance was named vice-president of Saint Mary's, and in 1834 succeeded Samuel Eccleston
Samuel Eccleston
Samuel Eccleston, P.S.S. was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the fifth Archbishop of Baltimore from 1834 until his death in 1851.-Early life:...
as president.
Chanche was offered the place of coadjutor to the archbishop of Baltimore and to the bishop of Boston successively, but declined. Father Chanche was president of St. Mary's when he was appointed Bishop of Natchez in 1841.
Bishop of Natchez
The Diocese of NatchezNatchesium
Natchesium or Natchez is a Roman Catholic Diocese. As it is a titular see, it is not an active diocese. The diocese was founded on July 28, 1837 and originally was the Catholic diocese for the entire state of Mississippi. Even though the diocese was officially created in 1837, the first bishop of...
was created on 28 July 1837, and although it encompassed the entire state of Mississippi, a large geographic region, nearly three years passed before Father Chanche was appointed as its first bishop on 15 December 1840.
Chanche was consecrated March 14, 1841 by Archbishop Eccleston at the Baltimore Basilica. Arriving at Natchez in May 1841, he met there the only priest in the state, Father Brogard, who was only there temporarily. Taking up the role of a simple missionary, Bishop Chanche began to collect the Catholics and organize a diocese. Chanche set to work building a diocesan infrastructure, and became reasonably well-known in the church hierarchy in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
In 1842 Bishop Chanche laid the cornerstone of Saint Mary Cathedral
St. Mary Basilica
The Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows is a Catholic basilica church in Natchez, Mississippi.The Diocese of Natchez was erected in 1837, and in 1842 construction began on a new cathedral. It was dedicated on December 25, 1843 and consecrated on September 19, 1886 and remained the cathedral of the...
, and opened an academy for girls. In 1818 he invited the Sisters of Charity
Sisters of Charity
Many religious communities have the term Sisters of Charity as part of their name. The rule of Saint Vincent for the Daughters of Charity has been adopted and adapted by at least sixty founders of religious orders around the world in the subsequent centuries....
to Natchez.
At the First Plenary Council, in 1852, Bishop Chanche served the role of "chief promoter." He died shortly after the sessions of the Council, at Frederick, Maryland
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
, leaving his diocese with 11 priests, 11 churches erected, and 13 attendant missions.
In 2007 the body of Bishop Chance was exhumed
Exhumed
Exhumed may refer to:*Exhumation*Exhumed , a first-person shooter*Exhumed , a deathgrind band* Exhumed Films, a Philadelphia-based "organization* Exhumed river channel, a ridge of sandstone...
and returned Natchez to be reinterred
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
in St. Mary Basilica
St. Mary Basilica
The Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows is a Catholic basilica church in Natchez, Mississippi.The Diocese of Natchez was erected in 1837, and in 1842 construction began on a new cathedral. It was dedicated on December 25, 1843 and consecrated on September 19, 1886 and remained the cathedral of the...
.
See also
- Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
- Roman Catholic Diocese of JacksonRoman Catholic Diocese of JacksonThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson is a diocese in the ecclesiastical province of Mobile, in the southern United States of America. Its ecclesiastical jurisdiction includes the northern and central parts of the state of Mississippi, an area of . It is the largest diocese, by area, in the United...
External links
- Bishop John Joseph Chanche, S.S.
- Photographs of a painting of Bishop Chanche
- St. Mary Basilica Archives Natchez, Mississippi
- St. Mary Basilica Natchez, Mississippi